"I'm gonna ask Wimbledon for a raise": Djokovic jokes after towel-gate as he mops Centre Court at Wimbledon during rain delay
ATP
Novak
Djokovic joked about being compensated for helping to dry the Wimbledon court.
The 23-time
Grand Slam champion started his Wimbledon journey on a high note with a victory
over Argentine player Pedro Cachín in the first round, winning 6-3, 6-3,
7-6(4).
The Serbian
player is on a mission to defend the trophy he won in 2022, having also been
the champion in the past four editions at the All England Club. During his
first-round match, there was a delay after winning the first set due to rain,
which caused a one-and-a-half-hour suspension of play.
Although
the roof was closed on the center court after the rain started, the playing
surface remained slippery at the beginning of the second set. The currently
ranked world No. 2 helped the tournament staff dry the court with a towel while
the staff used leaf blowers to speed up the drying process.
In a
post-match interview with Tennis Channel, Djokovic mentioned that it was the
first time he had difficulties because the grass court was not dry enough and
jokingly mentioned asking for a raise from Wimbledon for his assistance.
"It
was the first time that we had a situation where the grass wasn’t drying. So we
kind of went back and forth every 10–15 minutes. I went out with my towel
trying to do something. I’m gonna ask Wimbledon for a raise," Nole said.
Regarding
his new journey in the tournament that he has already won seven times, Djokovic
described it as a dream come true.
“It doesn’t
get much better than Wimbledon, really, in terms of history and tradition,” Djokovic
said
“I’ve said
it many times throughout my career. Coming to Wimbledon was always the dream,
to win it. A childhood dream came true in 2011 and each year I come back I kind
of relive those memories and just kind of connect with that young boy that was
dreaming in Serbia.”
“I try to
not take any match, any minute that I spend on the court here for granted. I’m
definitely blessed, so it’s a wonderful feeling to be here,” he added.
In the
second round, Djokovic will face Australian player Jordan Thompson, who
achieved a great victory by coming back from two sets down to defeat former Next
Gen ATP player Brandon Nakashima.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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